Two teams face off looking to rise from the basement of the East and back into contention. The top two teams in the West look to take control of the division. Sunday’s games in Week 5 of the AAF are sure to be important matchups in the playoff picture. The halfway point of the first AAF season is already here and the hierarchy of the league is beginning to fall into place. Week 5 will have matchups that could help decide who ends up staying alive at the end of the season. Sunday’s games will be ones to watch.
Memphis Express (1-3) at Atlanta Legends (1-3)
Both of these teams didn’t have a win entering Week 4. However, both pulled out 3-point wins to get into the win column for the first time in franchise history. Memphis’s turnaround has been due to their change at quarterback. Christian Hackenberg was expected to be one of the better quarterbacks in the AAF entering the year, but ended up being one of the worst. He was finally replaced by former Tennessee Titan quarterback Zach Mettenberger who has jumpstarted this team. He brought them back against Orlando in the second half in Week 3. Then, he beat the hot Fleet team last week.
The Legends finally won last week as well, but they are going to lose at home here. I believe the Express could bounce back from their rough start and end up contending by the end of the season. Atlanta has too many issues to deal with this season and will be looking forward to next year. Memphis gets a second straight win and puts themselves back into the playoff conversation.
Prediction: Express 26 Legends 19
San Antonio Commanders (2-2) at Arizona Hotshots (2-2)
The Hotshots looked to be in the conversation with the Apollos as a championship contender after Week 2. However, they have now lost two straight games to teams that entered the game without a win. San Antonio’s two wins have both been due to grinding out defensive battles against San Diego in Week 1 and Birmingham last week. The Hotshots still have one of the best quarterback-wide receiver tandems in the AAF. John Wolford leads the league in touchdowns with eight. Five of those have gone to receiver Rashad Ross. Those two have connected early and will look to continue throughout the year.
San Antonio will not be in the same defensive battles that they have won in Arizona on Sunday night. Arizona’s offense will wake up this week and get out of this two game skid. These two teams currently sit at the top of the West and I expect the Hotshots will still be in the top two when the season ends. However, San Antonio will not. That starts on Sunday as San Antonio drops below .500 and Arizona takes control of the West.
Prediction: Hotshots 32 Commanders 20
